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Anthony S. Bottar

Managing Member
asb@bottarlaw.com
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120 Madison St #1300
Syracuse, New York 13202

Best Lawyers

Mr. Bottar is one of upstate New York's most experienced and accomplished trial lawyers, with a track record of extraordinary recoveries for his clients.  A past president of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, he brings 45 years of experience to the pursuit of cases involving birth injuries, brain and nerve injuries, amputation, paralysis, and wrongful death due to medical negligence, complex accidents, workplace injuries and defective products.

Mr. Bottar has been continuously listed in The Best Lawyers In America® since 2003, and received its 2023 Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year award for Syracuse.  Previously, he was recognized four times by Best Lawyers® as a Syracuse Lawyer of the Year for 2020, 2018, 2014-15, and 2009. Mr. Bottar has attained an AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available for legal ability and professional ethics, is a Senior Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America - Trial Lawyer Honorary Society™.

In 2001, Mr. Bottar was appointed by the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department to serve as a member of the Character and Fitness Committee for the Fifth Judicial District.  The Character and Fitness Committee is responsible for screening and interviewing all Central New York applicants who are seeking admission to the Bar.  

In 2018, Mr. Bottar was appointed by the Presiding Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department to serve as a member of the Grievance Committee of the Fifth Judicial District.  In 2021, Mr. Bottar was appointed Chair of the Grievance Committee.  The Grievance Committee is responsible for the investigation, review and prosecution of complaints of attorney misconduct in Onondaga, Oneida, Oswego, Herkimer, Jefferson and Lewis Counties.

Mr. Bottar has been listed in Upstate New York Super Lawyers® for plaintiff's medical malpractice and personal injury since the inaugural edition in 2007, and was named to its "Top 50" list for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018.  Since 2011, he has been recognized annually by The National Trial Lawyers as one of the "Top 100" trial lawyers in New York State.  He has also been honored by Lawdragon as one of the top 3,000 attorneys in the United States, and has earned life memberships in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum® and the Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum®.   

Mr. Bottar regularly speaks or guest lectures at legal and non-legal functions, including ethics, tort and practice management classes at Syracuse University College of Law, and at annual updates on behalf of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.  He is a past member of the Dean's Advisory Council at the University at Buffalo School of Law, a has been elected a Fellow of the New York Bar Foundation. 

Mr. Bottar has a long record of public service and is deeply invested in New York State's education system. He served as a Trustee of the North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education from 1988 through 1989, and as the President of the Board from 1989 through 1996. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Onondaga Madison School Boards Association from 1994 through 1996.  In 1996, 2001, 2006 and again in 2011, the New York State Legislature elected Mr. Bottar to serve as a Regent of the University of the State of New York, the most comprehensive and unified education system in the nation.

Over his tenure as a Regent, Mr. Bottar was Chair of the College and Career Preparation Work Group, Chair of the P-12 Education Committee, and was a member of the Higher Education and Professional Practice Committees. He was also Vice Chancellor of the Board from 2012-2016.  In 2016, after 20 years and more than 5,000 hours of pro bono service to the State of New York, Mr. Bottar retired from the Board.

Mr. Bottar resides in Manlius, New York, with his wife, Nancy, a registered nurse.

Education
  • University of Rochester (B.A., 1972)
  • State University of New York at Buffalo (J.D., 1976)
Jurisdictions Admitted To Practice
  • New York, 1977
  • United States District Court, Northern District of New York
  • United States District Court, Western District of New York
  • United States Court of Federal Claims
  • United States Supreme Court
Leadership
  • Character and Fitness Committee (5th Judicial District), New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department
    • Member, 2001-present
  • Grievance Committee (5th Judicial District), New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department 
    • Chair, 2021-present
    • Member, 2018-present
  • President, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers (2010-2011)
Honors
  • Best Lawyers in America® Lawyer of the Year, Syracuse Medical Malpractice (2023, 2020, 2019)
  • Best Lawyers in America® Lawyer of the Year, Syracuse Personal Injury (2018, 2014-15, 2009)
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (2001-present)
  • Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America - Trial Lawyer Honorary Society™
  • Upstate New York Super Lawyers® (2007-present)
  • Top 50: Upstate New York Super Lawyers® (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018)
  • AV® Rated (1983-present)
  • The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 (2011-present)
  • Lawdragon® "3000" National Finalist
  • Fellow, Million Dollar Advocates Forum®
  • Fellow, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®
Publications
  • Author, Coastal Processes and Change: Legal Implications, 1 Sea Grant Law Journal 139 (1976).
In the Community
  • Vice Chancellor, New York State Board of Regents (2012-2016)
  • Member, New York State Board of Regents (1996-2016)
Speaking Engagements
  • Judge Alphabet Soup, A Recipe for Success, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2015)
  • Annual Legal Update - Precedents & Statutes for Personal Injury Litigators: Discovery, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2015)
  • Annual Legal Update - Precedents & Statutes for Personal Injury Litigators: Discovery, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2014)
  • Annual Legal Update - Precedents & Statutes for Personal Injury Litigators: Discovery, NYS State Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2013)
  • Annual Legal Update - Precedents & Statutes for Personal Injury Litigators: Discovery, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2012)
  • Annual Legal Update - Precedents & Statutes for Personal Injury Litigators: Discovery, NYS State Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2011)
  • Annual Legal Update - Precedents & Statutes for Personal Injury Litigators: Evidence, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2010)
  • Annual Legal Update - Precedents & Statutes for Personal Injury Litigators: Products Liability, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2009)
  • Annual Legal Update - Precedents & Statutes for Personal Injury Litigators: Products Liability, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2006)
  • Personal Injury: Nuts, Bolts and the Tools To Use Them, New Jersey Association for Justice, Boardwalk Seminar CLE (Atlantic City 2010)
  • ABCs of EBTs, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE
  • Experts: From Retention to Trial, NYS State Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE
  • Prosecuting and Defending Medical Malpractice Claims, NYS State Bar Association CLE
  • Medicine in the Courtroom, New York State Bar Association CLE
  • Automobile Insurance Law and Practice, New York State Bar Association CLE
  • Practical Skills: Basic Civil Practice - The Trial, New York State Bar Association CLE
  • Keeping Pace: A Guide for the Up-To-Date Litigator, New York State Bar Association CLE
  • How To Try An Auto Accident Case, New York State Bar Association CLE
  • Product Liability - Post Daubert, New York State Bar Association CLE
  • Proving and Defending Damages, New York State Bar Association CLE
  • Decisions, New York State Trial Lawyers Institute CLE
  • Legislation and Litigation: The Importance of Ergonomics in Every Workplace,Onondaga County Bar Association CLE
Professional Associations
  • Charter Member, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • Member, Onondaga County Bar Association
  • Member, New York State Bar Association
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, American Association for Justice
My Recent Recoveries
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